Apparatus for producing storage-battery electrode elements



. Aug. 6, 1929. T. A. EDISON 1,723,609

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STORAGE BATTERY ELECTRODE ELEMENTS OriginalFiled July 24, 1925 15 5 1Q 41 55 J4 $4 V V 15 y 1 10' 10' 2665M F1 5INVENTOR 7 MM, Q.

A BY WW TORNEY was A... 6,1929. 1,123,609

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS'A. EDISON, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR TO THOMAS A.EDISON,

INCORPORATED, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APP ARATUS FOR PRODUCING STORAGE-BATTERY ELECTRODE ELEMENTS.

Original application filed July 24, 1925, Serial No. 45,781. Divided andthis application filed October 12, 1927. 4 Serial No. 225,619.

This application is a division of my co- Sheet or other supporttherefor, containexpending application Serial No. 45781, filed, actlythe proper amount of such material July 24, 1925 and patented November15, and also that the layer be of proper size and 7 1927, No. 1,649,579,and entitled Storage shape and of uniform thickness; and itis batteryelectrode elements and the 'producthe principal objectof this inventionto pro- 5 tion thereof, which copending patent applivide simple andeffective apparatus whereby cation contains claims on a storage batterythese results can be readily attained.

electrode element and also on the method of ther objects and features ofmy invenproducing such element. tlon will be hereinafter more fullydescribed to The present invention relates to an imand claimed.

proved apparatus for use in making storage For a clearer understandingof my invenbatt r elements, and particularly to appa- T1011, attentionis directed to the drawing acratus for carrying out certain steps in thecompanying and forming a part of this specimethod described in my saidapplication Sefication an in Wh h:

l5 rial No. 45781, of producing such elements. Flgure 1 is a plan viewof a preferred My improved apparatus has been designed form of myimproved apparatus; especially for the purpose of applying active F 1g-2 is a view in side elevation, partly in material in a dry finelydivided state to one Section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; or bothsides of insulating sheets or other Fig. 3 is a plan view of anelectrode elem supports for such material, preparatory to ellt f0rmed byapplying a' channeled layer subjecting such sheets or supports with theof active material to each side f an l layers of active material appliedthereto to g sheet by the use of my improved ppaa heavy r ur fo thpurpose of o ratus, and then subjecting said insulating pressing the dryfinely divided active matesheet and layers of active material to pres-Wi rial into dense coherent coatings and firmly e;

uniting the same to the supports, and then F1g. 4 1s a sectional view online ir -4: of

forming a battery pile structure containing g- 3; x

a number of such coated sheets or supports. g- 5 IS Vi Similar to g-Showin assembling such a structure a considerableg an electrode elementCOIIIPTiSiIIg an number of the coated sheets are usually su- Si11LtiI1gh t having a channeled layer of so perimposed with a suitable contactsheet or IVB material applied i b t (Hie Side or member between each twoadjacent coated Surface thereof; i i sheets or members so as to providea battery F g 6 nd 7 are detailed sectional views pile withelectrode-elements which are alteri he apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

as nately negative and positive, and the eleillustratinghow the same isusedin applyments forming such pile are then secured tog a ph nn ledlayer of active material to gether under pressure between clamping oreach side of an 1nsulat1ng sheet or support; pressure plates disposed ateither end of the d L pile by bolts or rods, preferably constituting Fg- 8 IS a VleW 5 11 211 t0 Flgs- 6 and 7,

to the poles f th il t di th h fil showing how the apparatus is used inap- 9o clamping pl t d l th h th el plying a channeled layer of activematerial ments of the pile, and nuts threaded on said 0 t 0119 slde f anlnsuletma' Sheet rods, as described in several of my previous pp Vpatents and also in said application Serial 'iRBf -ITmg 0 the d wing,mvlmproved h o. r5781 lit will be understood, however, pp a a t for ppd" active that my improved apparatus ay be u ed material to insulatingsheets or other supfor other purposes. ports, comprises a rectangularchanneled lit is extremely important, in electrode elebasal and adevlcefi slidably mo nte 011. ments of the type described, that eachlayer field e and p d wi h a hopper 3. of tive n aterial applied to aninsulating The channel. 4: @XlltblldS WllOlG length Of the base 1- andis provided at its opposite sides with guiding grooves 5. The base 1 hasa large rectangular opening A extending therethrough, said openingcomprising 5 a lower section 6 of the same shape and size as theinsulating sheets to be coated, and an upper section 70f reduced areaintercepting the bottom of the channel 4 and having the same size andshape as the coatings of active material to be applied to the insulatingsheets, the construction and arrangement being such that the oppositeside walls of the section 7 of the opening A are respectively in. thesame planes as the opposite side walls of the channel 4. The opening Ais provided with flanges 8-on all four sides, which flanges define thesection 7 of the opening, are flush with the bottom of the channel 4 andhave a thickness corresponding to the desired thickness of the layers ofactive material appliedto the insulating sheets before subjecting thesame to pressure. At a small distance beyond one end of opening A, thebottom of the channel 4 of base 1 is also provided with an inclinedOpening 9 extending therethrough and transversely thereof, the saidopening 9 providing for the discharge of the surplus active materialdeposited from the hopper 3 of the apparatus in applying a layer of suchmeans as shown consisting of the flanges 8 already referred to, and amember 10 which is preferablyin the form of a rectangular bar and whichis suitably secured as by means of screws 11, to the bottom of thebetween its ends with another similar but smaller circular portion 14.

The hopper device 2 comprises two members 15 and 16 having spacedopposed oppositely inclined walls between which the hopper 3 is formed,said members being secured between two side plates 17 and 18 by means ofscrews 19 and rivets 20. The members 15 and 16 of the hopper device 2are a little less in width than the channel 4 of the base 1, and thehopper device is removably positioned on the base with the lowerportions of the members 15 and 16 disposed in the channel 4; and withshoulders 17 and 18' formed adjacent the loweredges of the side plates17 and 18 resting upon the tracks provided by the upper surfaces of thesides of the channel. The parts of the hopper device are so constructedand arranged that when the device is thus positioned, the loweredgeofmember 15 will lie closely adjacent the upper surface of the bar10 and there will be a slight clearance between the lower surface ofthat portion of the hopper member 16 adjacent the discharge opening ofthe hopper and the bottom of the channel 1 and theupper surfaces of theenlarged circular portions 13 and 14 of bar 10. The reduced portions ofthe side plates 17 and 18 below the shoulders 17 and 18 are of suchthickness that when the hopper device 2 is in the position described,they will lie very close to the adjacent side walls of the channel 4.

The bottom edges of the side plates 17 and 18 for the 'maj or portion ofthe length of said plates, are flush with the bottom of the hoppermember 16, but are provided at the end portions thereof adjacent thehopper 3 with downward extensions 20 which engage and fit closely withinthe guiding grooves 5 in the bottom of the channel 4. To facilitate thesliding movement of the hopperdevice 2 on the base 1, the bottom of themember 16 and the side plates 17 and 18, for a consid- 45 channel 4.- ofthe base; The bar 10 extends entirely across the opening A and it is.im-

- portant that said bar be secured to the base 1 so that it will bemidway between the opposite side walls of the section 7 of such 50opening. To attain this result the base 1 is provided with centeringpins 12 which erable distance from the left hand end of the hopperdevice 2, are reduced in height or cut back as indicated at 21 toincrease the clearance between this part of the hopper device and thebottom of the channel 4. A plate 22 isadjustably secured against the 60er surfaces of the flanges 8.

respectively engage openings-formed in the bar 10 adjacent the endsthereof as shown. The lower surfacesof the end portions of 55 bar 10closely engagethe bottom of the channel 4, while the intermediateportion of said bar is formed to extend downwardly within the section 7of the opening A with the lower surface thereof flush with the low- Thatportionof the bar 10 which extends within the section 7 of the opening Ais provided adjacent its ends with enlarged circular portions 13 thelower surfaces of which" are flush with the ,6 lower surfaces of'theflanges '8, and midway outerface of the hopper member 15 by means of abolt 23 secured at one end to the hopper member 15 and extending throughan en larged opening 24 in the plate 22, and a nut 25 threaded on theouter end of said bolt. The inclinedplate 22 is provided with a lowerbeveled end portion 26 and this plate is secured to member-l5 so thatwhen the hopper device/2 is in place the bottom edge of the plate willbe in substantially the same plane as the top surfaces of the flanges 8and of the enlarged portions 13 and 14 of member 10. In case the lowerend portion of the plate 22 becomes worn the plate may readily beadjusted to proper position upon loosening the nut The hopper members 16is provided on its under side and centrally thereof with alongitudinally extending rectangular recess 28 and the plate 22 isprovided with a similar recess 29 aligned with the recess 28, saidrecesses being engaged by the bar 10 when the hopper device 2 ispositioned on the base 1. I

In Figs. 3 and 4 I'have shown an electrode element consisting of'anasbestos or other insulating sheet 30 having on one side a thin layer ofa suitable active material, such as iron or oxide of iron, and on theother side a thin layer of anothersuitable active material, such asnickel hydroxide. 'Adjacent its ends and midway between its side edgesthe asbestos sheet 30 isprovided with circular openings 33 through whichthe poles of the battery pile extend when a plurality of the electrodeelements are assembled into a battery pile. The sheet 30 is alsoprovided with a smaller central circular opening 34, and when aplurality of elements such as described are assembled into a batterypile, the central openings thereof provide a path for the circulation ofelectrolyte. To prevent the layers of active'ma-terial on the asbestossheet 30 from shedding or being broken off at their edges, and fromcoming into contact with thepoles which are to extend through theopenings 33, and in order to further facilitate the circulation ofelectrolyte, each surface of the insulating sheet is provided withuncovered portions carrying no active material, namely, the edgeportions 8, the annular portions 13' and 14 surrounding the openings 33and 34, and the straight narrow portions or channels 10 located midwayof the edges of the sheet and extending between the annular portions13'. and 14 and from .the annular portions 13 to the endsof the layer ofactive material. Obviously the corresponding channels in the layers ofactive material as well-as the other corresponding uncovered portions ofthe-opposite surfaces of the insulating sheet will be in alignment. Theelement shown in Fig. 5 is similar in all respects to the element shownin Figs.

3 and 4, except that the asbestos sheet 30'- thereof has a channeledlayer of active material 35 applied tobut one side thereof.

In producing an electrode element such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, Iproceed asfollows: A fiat pressure plate P of the same size as-the lowersection 6 of the opening A in base 1, is disposed in suchsection 6 withthe edge -portions'of its upper surface" in engagement with the lowersurfaces of flanges 8. e The hopper device 2 is then posi-' tioned onthe base 1 with the discharge openingt'of the hopper over the bottom ofthe channel 4 of the base at the right of opening A, and the hopper isfilled with the I dry, loo'se, finely divided active material to bedeposited, for example, finely divided iron or oxide of iron. The hopper3 is of such size as to hold a quantity of active material somewhat inexcess of that necessary to form one complete layer of active materialof the desired thickness. Thehopper device 2 is now moved from right toleft on the base 1 (referring to Figs. 1 and 2), so that the dischargeopening of the hopper moves entirely across the openings A and 9. Inthis sliding movement of the hopper device 2 a layer 31 of finelydivided iron is deposited on the upper surface of the presser plate P,such layer being of a unifornithickness equal to the thickness offlanges 8 and. the enlarged circular portions 13 and 14. of bar 10' andcovering all surface portions of the presser plate P except those whichare blocked out by said flanges 8, member 10 and enlarged portions 13and '14. As the active material is deposited on the presser plate P inthe movement of the hopper device 2 from right to left, the edge of thelower beveled end portion 26 offthe plate 22 acts as a scraper orevener, whereby the layer 31 of active ma-- terial produced will be ofuniform thicks.

ness and will have a fiat, even upper surface. In the depositing of thislayer of active material, the extensions 20 of the plates 18 and 19 actto define the edges of the layer and to prevent material being displacedlaterally beyond the limits defined thereby under the action of thescraper provided by the plate 22; Thesurplus active material in thehopper 3, that is, the material in excess of that sufiicient to form thelayer 31 is discharged from the hopper through theopening 9. The presserplate P with the layer of active material 31 there on is now removedfrom the baseil and a sheet 30 of asbestos or other suitable insulating,material is placed on the layer 31. The presserplate P is then againdisposed in the lower section 6 of the opening A with l the edgeportions of the upper surface of the lower surfaces of the flanges 8. Alayer 32 of dry, loose, finely divided nickel h ydroxide is nowdeposited on the upper surface of the asbestos sheet 30 in the samemanner as the layer of iron or oxide of iron was deposited onthe presserplate P. The I presser plate P carrying the layers of active material'31and 32 and the intermediate asbestos sheet 30 is nowremoved from .thebase 1, a second presser plate similar to plate P is placed on the upperlayer 32 of 110 the asbestos sheet 30 in engagement with 1 I tion, whatI claim as new and the asbestos sheet 30.

smooth fiat surfaces and are firmly united to the respective surfaces ofthe asbestos sheet 30..

I may also produce an electrode element such as that shown in Figs. 3and 4, by joining two asbestos orother insulating sheets each having achanneled layer of active material on but one side, as follows:

. A presser plate P with an. insulating sheet 30 thereon is disposedwithin the lower section 6 of opening A, with the edge portions of theupper surface of the asbestos sheet in engagement with the lower surfaces of flanges 8, as shown in Fig. '8. A layer of dry, loose, finelydivided active material 35 is then deposited on the asbestos sheet 30'from the hopper 3 in the manner above described. The presser plate Pcarrying the sheet 30 and, the layer'of active material'35 is nowremoved from the base 1,

another presser plate silnilar to plate P is placed on the layer 35, andthis assembly is then subjected to enormous pressure, as

described above, to compact and form the ,layer of active material 35into a dense coherent sheet of uniform thickness, and at the same timeto unite such layer firmly to This results in an element such as thatshown in Fig. 5. Two such elements are then assembled wit-h the uncoatedsurfaces of the insulating sheets thereof in engagement, between presserplates, and such assembly is then subjected to a heavy pressure so "asto 'firmly unite the insulating sheets. The layers of activematerial onthe two asbestos sheets thus united should of course in the case of theparticular form of electrode elements herein described, be respectivelyformed of nickel- .opening, said base being provided with meansincluding flanges about said opening for locating within said opening amember having a flat upper surface to be coated with material dischargedfrom said hopper, said flanges being adapted to coact with such memberwhen located in said opening to maintain the member in a position withits said surface disposed a distance below' the upper plane of saidopening equal to the thickness of the flanges, substantially asdescribed.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a base having anopening therein, a hopper device, said base and hopper device beingconnected for relative sliding movement in a; given path traversing saidopening, and means for locating in said opening and at a predetermineddistance below the discharge of the hopper a member,

to be coated with material discharged from said hopper, said hopperdevice being provided adjacent the discharge of the hopper with ascraperfor evening the surface of material discharged from the hopperonto said member when located in said opening, said base being providedwith an opening located beyond said first opening in the path of therelative movement of the base and hopper device for discharging from theapparatus any surplus material discharged from the hopper, substantiallyas described.

Apparatus of the character described, comprising a base having anopening therein, a hopper device, said base and hopper device beingconnected for relative sliding movement in a given path traversing saidopening, means for locating in said opening and at a predetermineddistance below the discharge of the hopper a member to be coated withmaterial dischargedfrom said hopper,. and blocking-out means distinctfrom said hopper device and member, fixed to said base and havingsliding interengagement with the hopper device, said blocking-out meansextending across and into said opening, substantially as described.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a base having anopening therein, a hopper device, said base and hopper device beingconnected for relative. sliding movement in a given path traversing saidopening, said base being provided with means for locating at a givenposition within said opening a member to be coated with materialdischarged from said hopper, said hopper being provided with means forevening the surface of material discharged from the hopper onto saidmember when located in said position within said opening, and said basehaving an opening located beyond said first opening in the path of therelative movement of the base and hopper device for dischargin' from thematerial discharged from stantially as described.

This specification signed this 11th day of October, 1927.

' THOS. A. EDISON.

the hopper, subapparatus any surplus 1

